INTRODUCTION The following page presents a project done for my ninth grade english class. I spotlight two main biblical characters: Adam and Eve. Many people's view of these characters offer a single-sided point of view. In this project, I take the traits portrayed by the redactors who wrote the text and analyze the characterization methods used both in the bible and in paintings done about the story. This page offers some interesting insight into the motivations and relationship in the dynamics of the couple. I wrote a script about a conversation between the two that never happened, portraying the character traits seen in the text and paintings.
AUDIO
SCRIPT
(Nature sounds)
Narrator: Adam and Eve stroll through Eden on a hot day. The two smile and enjoy each others company. Little do they know that their fun will soon diminish into their worst nightmare...
Eve: How hot it is!
Adam: Yes my dear, it is quite warm outside.
Eve: How grateful I would be if there was some way I could cool. I am starting to feel a little faint!
Narrator: Just then, she sees a river up ahead.
Eve: Wow! Just what I needed! How funny that a river appeared just as I complained about the heat. It must be a sign. Oh, I must jump in!
Adam: Just a second, dear. I want to address the quality of this water to make sure it is safe to swim in.
Eve: Don't be silly! Water is water. What could be unsafe?
Adam: Yes, I take your point into consideration. However, this river looks deep. Much too deep for swimming. If we go into this water, we will drown.
Eve: You're crazy. I'm going in. (Splash) Oh my, this is wonderful! Adam, come in!
Adam: I don't know... I truly do not believe that it is safe.
Eve: Seriously stop being so ridiculous the water's amazing!
Adam: Alright fine. (Splash) You were right this does feel nice.
Eve: See! I told you.
(Laughing and splashing in the background)
(Thunder roars)
Eve: Did you hear that?
Adam: Of course, it sounded like thunder. However the weather remains hot and clear, so it must be some sort of animal. (More thunder hits, followed by rain)
Eve: Adam how could this happen!? It was hot a mere five minute ago! Oh my god, Adam! I feel like I'm starting to drift downstream!
Adam: I feel like I'm drifting. Faster and faster and I can't control where I go.
Eve: Is there any way we can try to get to shore?
Adam: Here, try grab my hand. I'll try to swim us into safety.
(Pause and then grunting)
Adam: I don't have the energy to swim!
Eve: Well what are we going to do then?
Adam: I don't know. The only thing I do know is that this is your fault.
Eve: What?
Adam: You tempted me to jump in. I had a feeling that this would be unsafe but you wouldn't listen to me!
Eve: Okay, I do admit that I tempted you. It's just that I really wanted to cool off and the water looked so nice.
Adam: I can't believe I listened to you.
Eve: Excuse me?! You decided to go into the river yourself! I never forced you to do anything!!
Adam:I didn't want to go into the river but you convinced me to. I was being responsible and you were being irresponsible by not weighing the dangers of the situation!!
Eve: I can't believe you!! Like I said before, I didn't force you to do anything!! If you really thought that the river would be dangerous, you wouldn't have jumped in. Now were in this situation and we just have to accept it!
Adam: Oh my god Eve I can't believe you're trying to put the blame on me! You caused this to happen!!
Eve: Wow Adam, seriously?! I can't believe what I'm hearing. We have to find a way to get out of this situation or we'll die here.
Adam: Will you stop trying to get the attention off of you?!
Eve: HOW AM I TRYING TO GET THE ATTENTION OFF ME!!! I'M TRYING TO FIND A WAY OUT OF THIS MESS AND ALL YOU'RE TRYING TO DO IS BLAME ME. HOW IS ARGUING GOING TO DO ANY GOOD?!?!
Adam: (silent)
Eve: Oh now you're ignoring me. That's just great. We need to work together!!
Adam: Oh. My. God.
Eve: What?!?! I can't believe your still trying to argue.
Adam: No, Eve, Look! Straight ahead!! A waterfall!!!
Eve: (Starts to heavily pant, then breaks into tears)
All I wanted was a nice afternoon in the river and now look what its come to. And my partner, my husband, my best friend, forever, in the world, hates me. HATES ME! And now, oh my gosh, I feel like the current's separating us!!
Adam: (nicer tone) Okay honey, it will be alright. Remember, God's on our side.
Eve: But what if God's trying to punish me for my mistake of jumping in the river?
Adam: Of course he isn't. This is just bad luck.
Eve: The worst bad luck you can get. I'm sorry, Adam. You know I love you. And if we die today, I want you to know that you mean the world to me and I couldn't survive without you.
Adam: I'm sorry, too, for putting the blame on you. I love you so much.
Eve: Adam!!
Adam: What?!
Eve: Can't you see that the river's pulling us apart?!
Adam: (grim voice) I... I guess so.
Eve: We're getting closer to the edge! I can't go over alone! I want to die with you!
Adam: Oh my. This is it.
Eve: Can you hear me?!?
Adam: Yes.
Eve: Okay. Do you want to count down? Three...
Adam: Two...
Eve: One...
Adam: Here we goOOOOOOOO! (unison scream by Eve)
(Screaming stops, silent)
Eve: Adam?
Adam: Yes?
Eve: Where are you?
Adam: I'm here. I have always been right here.
Eve: Are we alive?
Adam: Yes.
Eve: What saved us?
Adam: God saved us. CHARACTER ANALYSES
Although at first Eve is credulous in her decisions, her character matures enough to take responsibility for her mistakes. The serpent possesses a strong drive to trick her, and easily accomplishes this through Eve’s credulous behavior towards tempting situation. When the serpent tempts her to eat the fruit from the tree of knowledge, “The woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise,” (Gen 3.6) Eve knows little on about this tree, except that it will open her eyes to knowledge. She lacks the ability to make a good judgment about her upcoming actions, and therefore indulges into the desired fruit and takes advantage of God’s gift to earth. The serpent overpowers Eve’s little knowledge base and manipulates her into apathy to God’s word. However, when God confronts Eve after she disobeyed his order, she admits to what she has done and takes responsibility for her actions. When God asks her about her mistake, she tells him, “The serpent tricked me, and I ate.” (Gen 3.13) Eve openly admits that her weaknesses caused the serpent’s deception over her, a statement that most humans cannot admit for the sake of saving their reputation. Eve resists any urge to create a more powerful reputation for herself and admits her wrongdoing. She is contrite with God in this manner.
Though Adam begins tentatively with decision-making, he proves to possess extreme irresponsibility when he faults. When Eve offers him fruit from the tree of knowledge, a tree that God has forbidden Adam to interact with, Adam contemplates his decision, shown in the artwork "Adam and Eve " by Lucas Cranach the Elder. Adam scratches his head in uncertainty. He wants to respectGod’s word, but his temptation overpowers his piety and he succumbs to the will of his ‘id’. However, when God brings a wrath upon Adam for his poor judgment, he lacks the responsibility needed to realize the consequences of his actions. When God asks Adam to plead his case, Adam states, “The woman whom you gave to be with me, she gave me fruit from the tree, and I ate.” (Gen 3.12) Adam blames Eve for his bad decision. He lacks the capacity to realize his faults in the situation. He cannot accept responsibility for his actions. DIALOGUE ANALYSES When Eve sees the potential of swimming in the water, she visualizes no reason for caution. When Adam questions the quality of the water, Eve responds, “Water is water. What could be unsafe?” (Albinski-Euler 1) Eve does not assess the possibility of a powerful current that could lead her away from safety. She lacks proper judgment of the situation, making her unable to weigh the consequences that may occur. However, for a person that possesses these traits of innocence, she has remarkable responsibility for her actions. When the river pushes her and Adam to almost certain death, Eve tells her husband, “Now we’re in this situation, and we just have to accept it!” (Albinski-Euler 2) Eve realizes the situation she caused for herself, and understands what she needs to do to save herself and her husband. Mainly, she accepts it, and through that has the ability to create peace with herself to then overcome the trial that faces her. She uses her responsibility in this aspect.
Adam, a natural male leader, possesses tentative behavior as well as irresponsibility. When Eve expresses an interest in the cool, river water, Adam remarks, “I want to address the quality of this water to make sure it is safe to swim in.” (Albinski-Euler 2) Adam wants to ensure that nothing bad will happen to Eve. He does not act without thinking. Though ironically, when Adam finds himself caught in situations where he faulted, it is difficult for him to accept self-responsibility for his actions. When he realizes the situation he faces, he tells Eve, “I didn’t want to go into the river but you convinced me to.” Adam easily blames Eve for his actions.
WEBSPIRATION CHART
ARTIST INFORMATION
Lucas Cranach the Elder
Lucas Cranach the Elder was a German painter who debuted in the Renaissance Era, however he also pursued printmaking in woodcut and engraving. He lived from October 4, 1472 to October 16, 1553. Cranach's most renowned works consist of portraits, usually German princes and religious leaders. Cranach's work "Adam and Eve" depicts Eve offering a fruit from the Tree of Knowledge to Adam, and Adam reluctantly accepting. More information on this artist More information on this painting
REFLECTION
This assignment significantly helped my understanding of characterization. Having to look for characterization in text and pictures and creating our own characterization in writing made me develop a good sense of what this skill is all about. I think this assignment also ties every aspect of a project like this together-- by having an introduction, background, body, further information, and aesthetics. This project also taught me the value of time management on lofty, major assignments like this, because I had none. However overall I think this assignment has a lot of worth and I'm happy with my completion of it.
A NEAR-DEATH EXPERIENCE
By NataliaTrauma empowers relationships...
INTRODUCTION
The following page presents a project done for my ninth grade english class. I spotlight two main biblical characters: Adam and Eve. Many people's view of these characters offer a single-sided point of view. In this project, I take the traits portrayed by the redactors who wrote the text and analyze the characterization methods used both in the bible and in paintings done about the story. This page offers some interesting insight into the motivations and relationship in the dynamics of the couple. I wrote a script about a conversation between the two that never happened, portraying the character traits seen in the text and paintings.
AUDIO
SCRIPT
(Nature sounds)
Narrator: Adam and Eve stroll through Eden on a hot day. The two smile and enjoy each others company. Little do they know that their fun will soon diminish into their worst nightmare...
Eve: How hot it is!
Adam: Yes my dear, it is quite warm outside.
Eve: How grateful I would be if there was some way I could cool. I am starting to feel a little faint!
Narrator: Just then, she sees a river up ahead.
Eve: Wow! Just what I needed! How funny that a river appeared just as I complained about the heat. It must be a sign. Oh, I must jump in!
Adam: Just a second, dear. I want to address the quality of this water to make sure it is safe to swim in.
Eve: Don't be silly! Water is water. What could be unsafe?
Adam: Yes, I take your point into consideration. However, this river looks deep. Much too deep for swimming. If we go into this water, we will drown.
Eve: You're crazy. I'm going in. (Splash) Oh my, this is wonderful! Adam, come in!
Adam: I don't know... I truly do not believe that it is safe.
Eve: Seriously stop being so ridiculous the water's amazing!
Adam: Alright fine. (Splash) You were right this does feel nice.
Eve: See! I told you.
(Laughing and splashing in the background)
(Thunder roars)
Eve: Did you hear that?
Adam: Of course, it sounded like thunder. However the weather remains hot and clear, so it must be some sort of animal.
Eve: Adam how could this happen!? It was hot a mere five minute ago! Oh my god, Adam! I feel like I'm starting to drift downstream!
Adam: I feel like I'm drifting. Faster and faster and I can't control where I go.
Eve: Is there any way we can try to get to shore?
Adam: Here, try grab my hand. I'll try to swim us into safety.
(Pause and then grunting)
Adam: I don't have the energy to swim!
Eve: Well what are we going to do then?
Adam: I don't know. The only thing I do know is that this is your fault.
Eve: What?
Adam: You tempted me to jump in. I had a feeling that this would be unsafe but you wouldn't listen to me!
Eve: Okay, I do admit that I tempted you. It's just that I really wanted to cool off and the water looked so nice.
Adam: I can't believe I listened to you.
Eve: Excuse me?! You decided to go into the river yourself! I never forced you to do anything!!
Adam:I didn't want to go into the river but you convinced me to. I was being responsible and you were being irresponsible by not weighing the dangers of the situation!!
Eve: I can't believe you!! Like I said before, I didn't force you to do anything!! If you really thought that the river would be dangerous, you wouldn't have jumped in. Now were in this situation and we just have to accept it!
Adam: Oh my god Eve I can't believe you're trying to put the blame on me! You caused this to happen!!
Eve: Wow Adam, seriously?! I can't believe what I'm hearing. We have to find a way to get out of this situation or we'll die here.
Adam: Will you stop trying to get the attention off of you?!
Eve: HOW AM I TRYING TO GET THE ATTENTION OFF ME!!! I'M TRYING TO FIND A WAY OUT OF THIS MESS AND ALL YOU'RE TRYING TO DO IS BLAME ME. HOW IS ARGUING GOING TO DO ANY GOOD?!?!
Adam: (silent)
Eve: Oh now you're ignoring me. That's just great. We need to work together!!
Adam: Oh. My. God.
Eve: What?!?! I can't believe your still trying to argue.
Adam: No, Eve, Look! Straight ahead!! A waterfall!!!
Eve: (Starts to heavily pant, then breaks into tears)
All I wanted was a nice afternoon in the river and now look what its come to. And my partner, my husband, my best friend, forever, in the world, hates me. HATES ME! And now, oh my gosh, I feel like the current's separating us!!
Adam: (nicer tone) Okay honey, it will be alright. Remember, God's on our side.
Eve: But what if God's trying to punish me for my mistake of jumping in the river?
Adam: Of course he isn't. This is just bad luck.
Eve: The worst bad luck you can get. I'm sorry, Adam. You know I love you. And if we die today, I want you to know that you mean the world to me and I couldn't survive without you.
Adam: I'm sorry, too, for putting the blame on you. I love you so much.
Eve: Adam!!
Adam: What?!
Eve: Can't you see that the river's pulling us apart?!
Adam: (grim voice) I... I guess so.
Eve: We're getting closer to the edge! I can't go over alone! I want to die with you!
Adam: Oh my. This is it.
Eve: Can you hear me?!?
Adam: Yes.
Eve: Okay. Do you want to count down? Three...
Adam: Two...
Eve: One...
Adam: Here we goOOOOOOOO! (unison scream by Eve)
(Screaming stops, silent)
Eve: Adam?
Adam: Yes?
Eve: Where are you?
Adam: I'm here. I have always been right here.
Eve: Are we alive?
Adam: Yes.
Eve: What saved us?
Adam: God saved us.
CHARACTER ANALYSES
Although at first Eve is credulous in her decisions, her character matures enough to take responsibility for her mistakes. The serpent possesses a strong drive to trick her, and easily accomplishes this through Eve’s credulous behavior towards tempting situation. When the serpent tempts her to eat the fruit from the tree of knowledge, “The woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise,” (Gen 3.6) Eve knows little on about this tree, except that it will open her eyes to knowledge. She lacks the ability to make a good judgment about her upcoming actions, and therefore indulges into the desired fruit and takes advantage of God’s gift to earth. The serpent overpowers Eve’s little knowledge base and
Though Adam begins tentatively with decision-making, he proves to possess extreme irresponsibility when he faults. When Eve offers him fruit from the tree of knowledge, a tree that God has forbidden Adam to interact with, Adam contemplates his decision, shown in the artwork "Adam and Eve " by Lucas Cranach the Elder. Adam scratches his head in uncertainty. He wants to respectGod’s word, but his temptation overpowers his piety and he succumbs to the will of his ‘id’. However, when God brings a wrath upon Adam for his poor judgment, he lacks the responsibility needed to realize the consequences of his actions. When God asks Adam to plead his case, Adam states, “The woman whom you gave to be with me, she gave me fruit from the tree, and I ate.” (Gen 3.12) Adam blames Eve for his bad decision. He lacks the capacity to realize his faults in the situation. He cannot accept responsibility for his actions.
DIALOGUE ANALYSES
When Eve sees the potential of swimming in the water, she visualizes no reason for caution. When Adam questions the quality of the water, Eve responds, “Water is water. What could be unsafe?” (Albinski-Euler 1) Eve does not assess the possibility of a powerful current that could lead her away from safety. She lacks proper judgment of the situation, making her unable to weigh the consequences that may occur. However, for a person that possesses these traits of innocence, she has remarkable responsibility for her actions. When the river pushes her and Adam to almost certain death, Eve tells her husband, “Now we’re in this situation, and we just have to accept it!” (Albinski-Euler 2) Eve realizes the situation she caused for herself, and understands what she needs to do to save herself and her husband. Mainly, she accepts it, and through that has the ability to create peace with herself to then overcome the trial that faces her. She uses her responsibility in this aspect.
Adam, a natural male leader, possesses tentative behavior as well as irresponsibility. When Eve expresses an interest in the cool, river water, Adam remarks, “I want to address the quality of this water to make sure it is safe to swim in.” (Albinski-Euler 2) Adam wants to ensure that nothing bad will happen to Eve. He does not act without thinking. Though ironically, when Adam finds himself caught in situations where he faulted, it is difficult for him to accept self-responsibility for his actions. When he realizes the situation he faces, he tells Eve, “I didn’t want to go into the river but you convinced me to.” Adam easily blames Eve for his actions.
WEBSPIRATION CHART
ARTIST INFORMATION
More information on this artist
More information on this painting
REFLECTION
This assignment significantly helped my understanding of characterization. Having to look for characterization in text and pictures and creating our own characterization in writing made me develop a good sense of what this skill is all about. I think this assignment also ties every aspect of a project like this together-- by having an introduction, background, body, further information, and aesthetics. This project also taught me the value of time management on lofty, major assignments like this, because I had none. However overall I think this assignment has a lot of worth and I'm happy with my completion of it.
CITATIONS
http://epistole.files.wordpress.com/2009/12/lucas_cranach_d-_a-_063.jpg
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lucas_Cranach_the_Elder
http://goldenstate.files.wordpress.com/2008/12/rubens_-_adam_et_eve.jpg
http://mormonmatters.org/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/Adam-and-Eve-Garden.jpg